Buford's Steak House & BBQ

This place should never be "smokin" because the only smoking going on is the crack in the kitchen by the cooks and waitresses. The food is terrible! If the health inspector went to this place and checked out the kitchen it would probably close down this joint, which would be a blessing. Save your money and eat at Battles or Hickory Park if you are desperate for BBQ. Kansas City is where real BBQ‘s at! Go KC.

A star is generous for this place. The atmosphere was barely there, service ok and the food, well you‘d be better off with the Burger King down the road.

We attempted to try Bufords for lunch this weekend...got there at 11:00 when they were supposed to open. After waiting for 15 minutes, I went to the hotel front desk and asked if the restaurant was going to even open...she said a little later...probably 11:30. We waited around until 11:31 and the place was still pitch dark with no signs of activity. So we ended up going to Dublin Bay where we had an outstanding meal. After reading all the horrendous reviews, I‘m glad they didn‘t open on time!! The fact that they weren‘t even open a half hour after they were supposed to without any explanation leads me to believe that the staff obviously doesn‘t care...too bad!!

The food wasn‘t outstanding, but it was good. You get A LOT of food for your money, so come hungry. My husband loves it for the BBQ.

Service was bad the waitress could not tell us the soup of the day, had to then find someone who did, that person must have been the at the front desk of the hotel. The waitress got four out of nine orders wrong and then tried to tell us that what we ordered. Once we got the right food it was great. But the service takes away from the great food.

Meat is over-cooked and dry, service is slow (even when the place is almost empty). What‘s worse is they act like they don‘t want to be there and they don‘t care.

We decided to try Buford‘s tonight. We were delighted with its cozy, clean environment. It was mysteriously dead at 6:30 on a Saturday night. I ordered a crispy chicken salad with a request to go light on the cheese. Apparently, that means no cheese at all, as none was given. The menu said a mix of romaine and iceberg. Out came 100% iceberg, an underwhelming salad indeed. My fiance‘ ordered a sampler platter with baked potato. His turkey, pork and beef tasted as if it had been poached in water all day. We were given the stinkeye from our server by merely asking for beverage refills; the service was not welcoming. We will try again, possibly the fish and chips. This COULD and SHOULD be a good place... Ames needs to retain a variety of resturants. We were most disappointed with the service. We are very good tippers, tonight tested that for sure.

the food was over cooked and dry the sevice was ok but not great for the price i think the best bbq is still big ‘g log cabin bbq in boone the place is off of story st on 8th, but worth the trip from ames

I got sick eating here. The service was awful and my food was raw. I mean c‘mon.

We went their for graduation and have to say the worst restaurant I have ever been in. Place looks nice and all, then you get sitted and the service is TERRIBLE. The food is not prepared the way you order it. They didn‘t even have SOUR CREAM for the baked potatoes. They were "OUT". HOW??? Everytime you would ask for something they were OUT. This was at 7pm at night and the place was not BUSY.

We had to ask the waitress to take off a plate of meal of our bill b/ it was not cooked as ordered and no one apologized, and didn‘t even ask to replace the plate for another one. She took it off without a question and manager wasn‘t even concerned to come ask why?

I have to agree with some reviews go to McDonalds it‘s a better meal...

Last Saturday was a great experience..Prime Rib was great..service quick and I will go back again!

Tonight my wife and I have heard mixed things about Buford‘s but we thought we‘d try it for ourselves. I ordered the Fish and Chips special, it was outstanding! Homemade chips! My wife had a half rack of loin back ribs, and they were very good. It was a nice atmosphere and my waitress was friendly.

I had the all you can eat for lunch. It was great for some one on the road {like me} to have a lunch that filled me up for a long drive home

Mouth watering tender ribs! Large servings..well worth the money. Atmosphere warm, casual and friendly.

good prime rib on fridays. also love that they have dinky wheat from olde main

our food was wonderfull!! Stayed and enjoyed the game!!

Yesterday was the first time that I have ever eaten here, and I have to say I thought the service was great, and the ribs were unbelieveable, I can‘t wait to come back

Great food, service and Worlds Largest BBQ Pit...Amazing...I have been traveling for many years and the staff really makes you feel welcome. I know its in a Hotel...but forget that just enjoy some of the finest BBQ going.

My daughters and I went to Buford‘s for my oldest daughters birthday. The staff was friendly and sang happy birthday to us. The ribs were outstanding! Wednesday nights they are only 8.95. I could only finish one re-order of them before I couldn‘t eat anymore. Definitely a good family atmosphere.

OH MY GOSH! We are from Minnesota and we have eaten here twice- each time my husband has ordered the Loin Back Ribs, and every time they are outstanding. Their shrimp salad is wonderful, very juicy shrimp. The service is friendly, and the prices are fair. I would highly recommend this restaurant!

Excellent deal on Wednesdays - All You can eat ribs for $8.95 how can you beat that price ? good food, good service, good deal

I‘ve eaten here several times. Each time, I had to wait to be seated (at 5 p.m. with not more than 4 people in the dining room). The food was below average. The wait staff was dirty and not professional at all. For what you pay, you should be getting good service and better food. I won‘t be eating here again.

Ribs dry and overcooked, coleslaw out of the bucket, Service mediocre at best. Guys to call you a Steak House is an insult to a Steak House.

The two times tried to eat here was real bad. The first time I sat at the table and waited fifteen minutes and never had anyone come to check on me and there was no one else in the place. The second time, the wait staff took forever and we got cold, dry ribbs. Had to hunt down the wait staff to get drink refills and our bill. I will never eat here again.

I have dined here many times, and have received nothing more than impecable service, and excellent food. Ample portions are served, and a doggy bag is allways necessary. This is the best kept secret in Ames. Very quiet and friendly atmosphere. I suggest this resturant to all of my friends and business contacts that may be traveling in the area.

I‘ve tried Bufords twice and both times it was deserving of the one star review. Dry, cool bbq and poor service on the first try...better service but dry meat again the second time. Save yourself the trip.

We went for dinner and everything was wonderful. I had Prime Rib, we also had the pit sampler which included ham, pulled pork, pulled turkey, and brisket. All was wonderful, you get a great deal of food here and the atmosphere is very nice and quiet. The service was also good. I would recommend this place to people and go again.

food was great we were there in august. prime rib for all 5 plus hamburger for child excellent food

I wish that I could give 0 stars, but alas it is not an option. This resaurant is horrible. Instead of eating here give me ten dollars and I will kick you in the stomach. You will feel more fulfilled.

This place is just horrendous!
My wife, son and I have tried eating here(opperative word here is "tried") a couple times and both the food and service was awful.
Please, if you are coming to our fair city and want BBQ don‘t eat here....go to Hickery Park, Battles BBQ, or even go get Mcdonalds Mcrib sandwich before eating at this place.

Great Meal, Reasonable Prices, Friendly Service! Nice atmosphere and I can hear myself think (try that Hickory Park!)

My experience at Buford‘s was amazing!!!! The service was above and beyond. The presence and atmosphere of the restaurant was very welcoming as well as the staff. We ordered the BBQ ribs and a NY strip dinner. The ribs were smoked to perfection and the steak was everything I expected and more. Needless to say, in my opinion, just as good as Hickory Park...if not better.

This place stinks. The food sucks, the service needs major improvement and it is over priced.
Did I mention the food sucks?
I have had better cuts of meat from McDonalds!

Great food and especially the BBQ ribs.
Service was quick and all our group decided to meet there the next day for another meal.

I ordered a take out meal they screwed it up completely. The 2nd time in 4 tries.
Inspect your meal before carrying out the IQ level is quite low here. Perhaps hiring some monkeys may help.

B.A. Hrdass
Des Moines,IA

Gross. The food is horrible and it smells like a swimming pool.

My husband and I "ate" at Bufords Restaurant this evening, and it was the worst service/meal we‘ve ever had. I ordered the prime rib "special" cooked rare, and it showed up well done and tough as shoe leather. I ordered two side items: a baked potato and an order of barbeque baked beans. The beans turned out to be pinto beans in watery barbeque sauce, and the potato never arrived. My husband ordered the meats sampler with a side salad and barbeque baked beans. His meat plate never arrived, though both sides showed up! I asked the waitress to take back my prime rib for a less cooked slice, and she returned the one I sent back and said that was all they had... Did I mention that the prime rib showed up on a cold plate and the meat itself was close to room temperature?!? Worst dining experience in Ames. We ended up stopping by DQ on the way home in search of sustinance.

I got the Iowa chops. The meat was dry the potato in foil was dry and tasted old... but the worst was the vegies: Green beans and carrots, fortunately the waitress told me what they were and they were died bright green and orange or I‘d have never told them apart. In all I‘ve had better meals in elementary school lunch programs... and they were NOT as over priced as this Red Neck Lodge.